by Dave Norris, Heritage Golf Club Superintendant

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A Rare Phenomenon!

Have you seen the snow rollers?

We’re not making snowmen on the course. A phenomenon called snow roller or “snow doughnut” is occurring.

If you caught the news, you’ll see that this is occurring all over central Ohio. While there’s not much to enjoy about this cold, snowy weather, we can at least take some joy out of knowing we’ve seen something rare.

For these conditions to occur, the ground must be covered by a layer of ice, then the layer of ice must be covered by wet, loose snow with a temperature nearing the melting point of ice. And finally, the wind must be strong enough to move the snow rollers, but not strong enough to blow them apart. No wonder it’s a rare occurrence, and fortunate for us we don’t see this every year.

These occurrences are happening on the ground and our roofs. So, all the snow balls in your yard aren’t necessarily from the neighborhood children practicing their aim at your house in the middle of the night. Gravity is pulling these snow rollers off of your roof. Our picture is from one on the veranda on the back of the Clubhouse.